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CHILLICOTHE - On a night that celebrated collaboration and the steps being taken together to move the community forward, Jon Bell of J.B. Express, Inc. was announced as the Chillicothe-Ross Chamber of Commerce's Entrepreneur of the Year.

"This is a tremendous honor and a privilege and a big surprise, I had no idea," Bell said in accepting the award, which is considered the chamber's most prestigious honor it bestows during its annual meeting and banquet.

Bell founded the company in 1996 that works with all segments of the transportation industry. It, along with a sister company, Bell Logistics, partners with more than 10,000 U.S. and Canadian carriers and collaborates on thousands of projects in a variety of areas, including a strong presence in the pipeline and compressor station construction industry.

"J.B.'s fleet of flatbeds and partner carriers haul thousands of miles of pipe every year and it's all managed ... and planned right here in Chillicothe," said Chamber President Randy Davies.

In keeping with the spirit of the evening, Bell thanked his employees and several other individuals and organizations that have supported his company's endeavors over the years.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award was created to recognize those who best exemplify what entrepreneurship means. Other finalists for the honor this year were Marc Cenci, of ERA Martin & Associates, and Bill Leib, of EXIT First Capital Realty. Prior to announcing Bell as the winner, a short video was played showcasing the three finalists.

Other award winners during the evening were The Scioto Society as the recipient of the Corporate Citizen Award, Hirsch Fruit Farm with the Legacy Award and the chamber's Briana Hood as Young Professional of the Year.

This year's chamber dinner took a different approach than past years. Rather than having a single headline speaker, audience members had the chance to hear from a number of local notables in the business community and from Andy Doehrel, president of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Some of the speakers unveiled future plans they are working toward.

Rod Spencer, who took over in October as plant manager for Chillicothe's Kenworth truck facility, spoke of the favorable conditions in the trucking industry and how the company has made 571 new hires since January of 2016. Kenworth presently boasts about 2,200 workers at its Chillicothe facility and is producing 156 trucks daily in Ross County — a figure expected to jump to 160 per day starting April 9, with a build rate expected to last through the third quarter and possibly through the fourth quarter and beyond.

Spencer also addressed the $30 million in capital investments made to the plant in 2017 and a new $33 million build cell to be installed on the west side of the factory this year that would be scheduled to start production during the first quarter of 2019. A similar cell installed for $25 million in 2011 has already become obsolete, Spencer said, showing how quickly production technology changes in the industry and how Kenworth is reacting to stay on top of the changes.

Adena Health System CEO Jeff Graham updated attendees on the ongoing emergency department expansion project and progress toward improving the hospital's building process, while Mick Whitt, of the OSU South Center in Piketon, announced a new Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) that will make the business resources of The Ohio State University available to local business and industry. this includes such things as a fabrication lab, die casting services, presses, mold injection services and several others.

Monday's event boasted its second-highest attendance in its history, with more than 430 people representing more than 100 businesses enjoying the dinner and program.